Fencing system

ABSTRACT

A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site includes the step of: surrounding the utility installation and/or municipal site with a fencing system. The fencing system includes: a plurality of anchored posts, a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material. Whereby, when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/662,846 filed Apr. 26, 2018, incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

There is a need for fencing around certain facilities, such as utility installations and municipal sites. This fencing should be capable of, for example, preventing small animals from entering those places. It has been determined that small animals may enter, for example, an electrical sub-station, and cause equipment failure that may lead to a brown-out or a black-out. See, US8840090 incorporated herein by reference. Such disruptions in electrical power delivery are problematic for the electric company and their customers.

Accordingly, there is a need for new fencing to prevent the ingress of small animals into certain utility installation and municipal sites.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site includes the step of: surrounding the utility installation and/or municipal site with a fencing system. The fencing system includes: a plurality of anchored posts, a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material. Whereby, when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 taken along sectional line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of a gate that may be used with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of an embodiment o0f another gate that may be used with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, there is shown an embodiment of the instant invention, a fencing system 10. In use, fencing system 10 inhibits the ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site by surrounding the installation and/or site, at least partially, with the fencing system 10. The utility installation may be any utility installation. In some embodiments, the utility installation may include, for example, an electrical sub-station. The municipal site may be any municipal site. In some embodiments, the municipal site may include, for example, a water reservoir, a water treatment facility, zoological or botanical gardens, agricultural areas, recreational areas, and the like.

The fencing system 10 generally includes: a plurality of anchored posts 12, a fencing material 14 spanning and affixed to the posts 12, and an animal barrier 16 extending along and affixed to an upper edge portion of the fencing system 10. The animal barrier 16 may be semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface 18 and an inward concave surface 20 where the concave surface faces the fencing material 124. By use of the instant fencing system 10, small animals may be inhibited from crossing over the fencing system 10. The animal barrier 16 inhibits small animal ingress into the utility installation and/or municipal site.

The plurality of posts 12 may be conventional, and any post 12 may be used. The posts may be anchored into the ground G in any conventional fashion. In one embodiment the ends of the posts 12 may be sunk into the ground G. In another embodiment, the ends may be sunk into the ground G and encased with concrete.

The fencing material 14 may be any fencing material. In one embodiment, the fencing material 14 may be chain-link fencing.

The fencing system 10 may further include any conventional wire barrier system 22. In one embodiment, the wire barrier 22 may be affixed to the fencing system 10 above the fencing material 14. The wire barrier 22 may include posts 24 affixed above the fencing system 10 on which wire 26 is strung. The wire 26 may be any conventional wire used in such applications. Examples of such wire 26 include, but is not limited to, barbed wire and razor wire.

The fencing system 10 may include a corner 28. The corner 28 may be protected by a vertical cover 30 encasing the corner 28. The vertical cover 30 may be a rigid sheet material, for example, sheet metal.

The fencing system 10 may also include a gate. The gate has an animal barrier therearound. FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a gate 40. Gate 40 may be a hinged door-type gate. Gate 40 may have a canopy 42 designed to prevent small animal ingress. FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a gate 50. Gate 50 may be sliding gate (motorized or un-motorized). Gate 50 may include a flat barrier 52 affixed along an upper portion of the gate. The flat barrier 52 may be a metal sheet.

The animal barrier 16 extends along and is affixed to an upper edge portion of the fencing system 10. The animal barrier 16 may be semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface 18 and an inward concave surface 20. The concave surface 20 faces the fencing material 14. The animal barrier 16 may have a radius in the range of about 6 to 18 inches or 6-12 inches or about 8 inches, or any subset thereof. The animal barrier 16 may be made of any rigid sheet material. The rigid sheet material may be sheet metal.

The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site comprises the step of: surrounding the utility installation and/or municipal site with a fencing system, the fencing system includes a plurality of anchored posts, a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material, whereby when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fencing material is chain-link fencing.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fencing system further comprises a wire barrier affixed to the fencing system above the upper edge portion of the fencing material.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fencing system includes a corner, the corner is protected by vertical covers encasing the corner.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal barrier is made of a rigid sheet material.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the rigid sheet material is sheet metal.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility installation is an electrical sub-station.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fencing system further includes a gate with an animal barrier therearound.
 9. A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into an electrical sub-station comprises the step of: surrounding the electrical sub-station with a fencing system, the fencing system includes a plurality of anchored posts, a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material, the animal barrier is made of rigid sheet metal, whereby when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the electrical sub-station.
 10. A fencing system for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site comprises: a plurality of anchored posts, a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material, whereby when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.
 11. The fencing system of claim 10 wherein the fencing material is chain-link fencing.
 12. The fencing system of claim 10 wherein the fencing system further comprises a wire barrier affixed to the fencing system above the upper edge portion of the fencing material.
 13. The fencing system of claim 10 wherein the fencing system includes a corner, the corner is protected by vertical covers encasing the corner.
 14. The fencing system of claim 10 wherein the animal barrier is made of a rigid sheet material.
 15. The fencing system of claim 14 wherein the rigid sheet material is sheet metal.
 16. The fencing system of claim 10 wherein the utility installation is an electrical sub-station.
 17. The fencing system of claim 10 wherein the fencing system further includes a gate with an animal barrier therearound. 